Lehigh Township May Be Bml Team Of The Future

August 01, 1985|by KEITH GROLLER, The Morning Call

To many people, Lehigh Township has been the surprise team in the Blue Mountain Baseball League this season. But the team's showing thus far - 16-13 through Saturday - has not been a surprise to general manager Andy Pierzga.

"I thought we'd have a good season this year because, even though we were 10-26 last year, we lost so many one-run games," said Pierzga, who formed the team with the help of several Lehigh Township businessmen in 1983.

"I couldn't believe the number of one-run and two-run games we were losing. It was just a matter of getting key hits at the right time; and this year, we've done that more often. They're not really a surprise to me."

But Lehigh Township has caught more than a few opponents by surprise this summer. Three of its wins have come against the Stroh's Orioles, the BML's Western Division leaders who had lost just five games all season as of Saturday. The team also owns wins over Allentown, the league's five-time defending champion, and the Hellertown Royals, who have already wrapped up their seventh straight East Division title.

Had Pierzga's Pirates been placed in the BML's Eastern Division, their record undoubtedly would qualify them for a playoff spot, which is awarded to each of the top two teams in each division. The second place team in the East will probably qualify for postseason play with a sub .500 record.

But in the strong West, they currently find themselves stuck in third behind Stroh's and Allentown.

Even without a playoff appearance, the Pirates have gained the respect and admiration of the rest of the league.

"Many of the other managers in the league, like Punkin Miller of Stroh's, have commented on the young talent they think our club possesses," said Pierzga. "Punkin told me last year already that if we could keep our guys together, we could have the team of the future in the league."

The future, however, appeared bleak back in May when the season began. Lehigh Township stumbled out to a 3-9 start and appeared headed for the kind of frustration the club encountered in its 7-29 inaugural season in 1983.

But then came the club's first-ever wins over Allentown and Hellertown. From there, everything seemed to fall into place. The club rallied back from a 6-0 deficit to defeat West Bethlehem 10-8 on July 11 and racked up nine wins in a row and 10 of 11 before consecutive losses to Martins Creek and Allentown on July 16 and 18 stalled the drive.

Still, Pierzga feels his team is on the right track.

"I'm very proud of the way this team has come along," said Pierzga. "We started in 1983 with just two players - Steve Hensler and my son, Gary - who had any kind of Blue Mountain experience at all. Then we added a lot of young guys last year; and they took their lumps early, but showed improvement. This year, we added a fewmore players, and with experience, everything has started to jell."

The majority of the current roster joined the club last year. Players like Jim Trach, Jr., Mike DeMasi, Mike Wandler, Mike Hothouse, Kevin Person, Steve Hammel, Steve Rogers, Ted Miller, Troy Heffelfinger all decided to play for the Pirates and try to turn things around. Then this year, Scott Brosky, Rob Endres, Tim Semler, Jeff Reiterman, Mike Bolza, Gil Bachman and Joe Ambrose solidified the club.

Pierzga says his infield, consisting of third baseman Trach, shortstop Wandler, second baseman DeMasi and first baseman Pierzga, is as good as any in the league. He also has praise for his pitching staff of Heffelfinger, Bolza, Reiterman and Miller.

Among the team's leading hitters are Wandler, DeMasi and Bachman, who were selected to the BML All-Star Game along with pitchers Bolza, Reiterman and Heffelfinger. Wandler delivered the game-winning hit in the BML's mid-summer classic.

Pierzga says he has also been pleased with the way manager Jim Trach, Sr., (the club's third skipper in three years) has handled the team.

"What makes me most happy is that these are very talented young men who go out there and play the game the way it should be played," said Pierzga. "None of these guys are discipline problems. They are very controlled. There's not a lot complaining with the umpires as it is with some other teams. These are primarily young guys who are either in college or just out and they play hard, but clean."

Perhaps because of the excellent behavior and the team's young age (only three players are older than 26), Lehigh Township has developed one of the biggest followings in the league, which, according to Pierzga, means a great deal to the players.

Although most of the players are from Northampton, the club has acquired talentfrom all over the Lehigh Valley. For example, DeMasi lives in Hellertown, while Endres is a Palmerton native and Brosky is from Catasauqua. They all come together to play ball at what Pierzga calls, "one of the nicest home fields in the league" in Berlinsville.

In all adds up to a situation which has the general manager glowing.

"We feel we have a bright future ahead of us if we can keep these guys together," Pierzga said. "In the off-season, we'd like to pick up a a veteran power hitter. Then next year, I'm confident we'll be able to play with anybody in the league and no one will be surprised."